Negative Watercolor Painting

Negative watercolor painting with three layers and analogous color scheme

What is Negative Space in Art?

I’ve been curious about negative space watercolor painting for a while now, ever since I came across some stunning examples online. But between lesson planning and the usual chaos of the school year, I hadn’t made the time to explore the technique myself—let alone turn it into a full-fledged lesson.
Negative space is the area around and between the subjects of an artwork. Instead of drawing the object itself, artists focus on the shapes created by the empty space around it.
In negative space watercolor painting, artists build up layers by painting around shapes rather than inside them. This reverse approach helps train the eye to see space differently and encourages careful planning and control of watercolor technique.
Negative and positive space is a foundational concept I introduce early in my art classes, and I thought this activity could be a refreshing way to revisit that topic with a new medium. The technique also opens up opportunities to integrate lessons on color mixing and color theory. The idea of working “in reverse” to build up a composition in layers also connects beautifully to reductive printmaking—a nice lead-in to one of my favorite projects: Reductive Calaveras Printmaking.
I’m a big believer in project-based learning. I love when a single activity can pull multiple techniques and concepts together in one hands-on experience. This lesson checked all those boxes, so it felt like the perfect addition to my curriculum.

Example of Positive/Negative Space leaf watercolor studies

Negative Space Painting Techniques: Leaf Studies

In the past, I’ve introduced the concept of negative and positive space with a fun drawing activity using Sharpies (Negative Space Lesson.) It’s quick, low-prep, and easy to execute with basic materials.
But for this watercolor version, I wanted to add an observational element and give students the opportunity to develop their watercolor painting skills.
We started by going outside, where each student collected three leaves of different shapes. I encouraged them to choose relatively simple leaf silhouettes since those would be the focal point of their paintings.
Once back in the classroom, students created small observational drawings of their leaves—drawing each one twice. One version was used to paint the positive space (inside the leaf), and the other was used to paint the negative space (outside the leaf). They sketched lightly using a hard pencil (H or HB), so only a faint outline would remain visible in the finished work.
I then demonstrated the wet-on-wet watercolor technique: laying down clean water first, then adding a diluted wash of color into the wet area. This allows the pigment to flow and settle evenly, and it naturally creates a clean edge thanks to the surface tension around the pencil outline. The result is a soft, smooth wash that still keeps its form.
This small study helps students start to feel the difference between focusing on the object itself versus the space around it—and it gives me a low-stakes way to assess their comfort level with watercolor.

Watercolor Materials

For watercolor, I use different materials depending on the budget and class size. When funds are tight or I have a large group, I go with the Prang Watercolor sets*—I find these to be the best watercolor kits for beginners because they're affordable and get the job done. But when I have more money in the budget, I spring for the Winsor & Newton Cotman Sketchers' Pocket Sets*. These are higher in pigment quality, offer better color payoff, and hold up well over multiple school years with careful use.
For paper, I prefer Canson Watercolor paper*. It’s student-friendly and handles layering nicely. Each student uses about 1.5 sheets for this project. We use washi tape* to create clean borders—it lifts off easily and won’t damage the paper surface. The Prang Watercolor Sets come with a good quality brush but I also like to order some round and flat brushes, these Simply Simmons brushes are affordable and the synthetic bristles hold up well with classroom use.
(*as an amazon associate I earn a small commission from purchases using this link)

Students working on their watercolor chart and swatch studies

Color Scheme Planning for Watercolor

Before diving into the final painting, we create a simple color wheel as a warm-up and reference tool. I give each student a roll of tape to trace a ring onto watercolor paper. They divide the circle into six sections—three on top and three on the bottom—and use the primary colors (either RYB or CMY) to mix their secondary hues (greens, violets and oranges.) We also mix complementary pairs in the center to explore how they create desaturated brown tones. 
Next, students plan their color scheme. We look at examples of monochromatic, analogous, complementary, triadic, and tetradic schemes, and they create small swatches to test their choices. I also have them plan a value scale using their selected hues—from lightest to darkest—since the painting will build up in layers.
For beginners, I’ve found that analogous or monochromatic schemes work best. Contrasting warm and cool colors can be layered later, but it takes experience to keep those layers from turning muddy. Here's a short form video that shows the process. 

Left: examples of watercolor chart studies Right: examples of watercolor swatches

How to do Negative Watercolor Painting

Once the color scheme is in place, we tape off our final painting space using the washi tape. I had students work at 5” x 7”—half of a 9” x 12” sheet—so there was room for a second painting if they finished early but 8" X 10" on the full sheet would also be a good size for beginners to start with.
Students plan the layout of their leaf shapes, either repeating one leaf or layering all three. Practicing the drawing beforehand is key. For beginners or younger students, it might be helpful to offer pre-cut cardstock leaf shapes (or have them make their own) so they can trace to ensure clean forms at each layer.
Here’s the general process:

1. Paint a full wash of the lightest color. Use a soft flat brush, it helps to paint a layer of water first and paint this layer wet on wet. 
2. Once dry, draw the first layer of leaf shapes and paint the negative space around them using the next darkest color.
3. Let that dry, then repeat the process: draw the next layer of leaves, leaving space between, and paint around them with the darkest tone.

I demonstrate each step, showing how to layer color without disturbing previous washes. I model three layers, which feels manageable for most students. Advanced students can certainly do more layers if their painting space allows.
Once the layers are complete and dry, students can optionally add details to the foreground leaves. I like to show how warm highlights can make those shapes pop forward and create a sense of depth.

Negative Space Art Examples

This project always results in visually impressive work—without being overwhelming for beginners. The key is scaffolding: build skills gradually, practice each technique before applying it, and give students the tools to plan their work thoughtfully.
It’s a lesson that brings together observation, design, color theory, and watercolor technique—and it gives students a new way to understand how negative space can be just as powerful as the subject. 
​This negative space watercolor technique can be developed in complex ways to create subtle, intricate images. To get inspired, I’ve created a Negative Watercolor Painting Pinterest Board featuring examples that show the creative potential of this negative painting technique with practice and refinement. 

Screenshot of the Negative Space Watercolor Pinterest Board I created with examples